Electrically-operated track switch



April 1930- F. H. RICHTERKESSING 1,756,700

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TRACK SWITCH Filed March 11, 1927 INVENTOR.FEHIVKIUFICfiTEFA 66/NG BY ma:-

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 ECE memzwmsaam FRANK H. RICHTERKESSING, OFLOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO CHEATHAM ELECTRIC SWITCHING DEVICECOMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY working power on.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED TRACK SWITCH Application filed March 11, 1927.Serial No. 174,526.

My invention relates to electrically oper ated track switches operatedautomatically from the car.

One object of my invention is to produce a system that works power on orpower off the system as hereinafter described.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system which willmaintain current to the track switch operating mechanism for a periodunder the control of the speed of the trolley car, and always haveenough time for switch operation regardless the speed of the car.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a system in whichindependent co-operating means are employed in controlling the directionof operation of the track switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system in which thepossibility of cur rent flowing thru both track switch operatingsolenoids is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system in which a poweroff switch operation is prevented while the system is Another object ofmy invention is to provide a system in which individual electricallyoperated magnetic blowout switches are used to disrupt the heavycurrents of each track switch solenoid branch, the current for eachbranch passing thru the one controlling contact only, thereby insuring apositive opening of the circuit each time without objectional wear anddestruction to the control apparatus.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a system, whichwill avoid the breaking of any currents by the current collector ortrolley wheel which may be of suflicient magnitude to cause adestructive arc.

Another feature of my invention is to provide a safe control systemembodying relays and circuits of much simpler nature than heretoforeused in combination with electric track switch operation. This featureis highly desirable for'production and service.

My invention resides in the new and novel combination, construction andrelation of the various electrically operated switches, circuits andother parts hereinafter more fully described and disclosed in thedrawings.-

In the drawings accompanying my specification;

Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the general arrangement ofcircuits usually found in an electrically operated car and which aretaken account of in the operation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing showing the arrangement of parts andcircuits when the system is in a normal condition. Under suchcircumstances, however, the switch tongue may be in either of itsoperable positions.

My invention is intended primarily for use with those cars.which areoperated by means of an overhead trolley wheel or current collector Wmounted on the car by means of a trolley pole T although it may beoperated by cars in which current is supplied thereto by other methods.Most cars are equipped with heaters H, lights L, and air compressors F,which are connected between the trolley pole and ground. The cars areequipped with operating motors M and a controller A therefor, which isunder the control of the car operator. When the controller is closedcurrent will flow thru the motors M and this position I term power on,and when the controller is open no current will flow through the motorsand this position 1 term power off. The controller A does not in any waycontrol the current flowing thru the apparatus H, L and F, which I termthe auxiliary car current. The current flowing thru the motors flows toground G. I have arranged the system herein described so that the trackswitch will be operated to the straightahead position when the collectorWV engages the trolley contactor P with power off, and the track switchwill be thrown to the curved position when the current collector engagesthe system using power on. This operation of the track switch, however,may be reversed by merely transposing the connections of the trackswitch operating solenoids as is evident to those skilled in the art.

In the system shown in Fig. 2, the letter D represents a trolley wire orconductor. Positioned adjacent the trolley conductor is a pan or trolleycontactor P provided with two contact members E and C which are usuallyparallel and normally insulated from each other. The member E iselectrically connected to the trolley conductor at all times, but themember C is normally insulated, but is electrically connected theretowhen the collector l/V engages the pan or trolley contactor P. Thecontact members E and C are so related to the trolley conductor thatwhen the collector engages the contact members it will be out ofengagement with the trolley conductor and remain so until it is about topass out of engagement with the pan or trolley contactor. Sucharrangement of the contact members and conductor is well known to thoseskilled in the art.

I also employ an electrically operated track switch N provided with twosolenoids SN and UN each having a connection to the ground, thru thecommon conductor '16.

The solenoids are provided with a reciprocating plunger J which is drawninwardly when the solenoid SN is energized and is drawn outwardly whenthe solenoid UN is energized. The plunger J is connected to the switchtongue 0 by means of the connecting link K. I also employ anelectrically operated normally open relay X provided with an operatingcoil KL and copper slug KLS, and a switch arm A The coil KL and copperslug KLS are mounted on a magnet core, which is also true of the otherswitch coil later referred to, although a moving plunger may besubstituted for the mag net core, as is well known in the art. Oneterminal of the coil KL is connected to the Contact member E of trolleycontactor P by wire E and the other coil terminal is connected to thetrolley conductor D by wire D It will also be noted that one coilterminal of coil KL is a common connecting point for wires 10 and 7 inaddition to wire D Wire 10 is connected to contact 19 which isnormallyopen front contact relay X, and wire 7 is connected to contact18 which is a normally open front contact on relay Z.' The switch arm Ais normally in its free state, that is, not influenced by any magneticflux, and rests against the normally closed contact 20, which is a backcontact of relay X, and is connected thru wire 11 to one coil terminalof coil B on relay Z. Armature Atis connected by wire 12 to solenoid SNof track switch N.

The other relay Z that I employ has in addition to its operating coil13, a copper slug BS, and an armature A Armature A is connected by wire13 to solenoid CN of track switch N. The other coil terminal of coil Bis connected by wire C to resistor R which is connected to contactmember C of trolley contactor P, by wire C All the relays used areprovided with retarded release factors and this retardation may bebrought about by various well known constructive principles. In regardto such devices as a copper or brass slug orsleeve about the core of thecoil of the relay, as indicated by KLS and BS, or it may be broughtabout by the spacing of the armatures with respect to their cores whenin the closed position, or a combination of these, or by a dash potarrangement, etc., or the relays may depend upon a system of timeproduced by a differential action of coils.

If the current collector W engages the trolley contactor l with poweroil, the contact members E and C will be electrically connected and ofthe same potential as the trolley wire, as the contact member E iselectrically connected to the trolley conductor D at all times, by wireD connecting the trolley con ductor D and low resistance coil KL, and

wire E connecting the other terminal of' coil KL and contact member E.Coil KL has a very low resistance as it usually consists of 10 or 12turns of number 6 copper wire. Relay X is a current selective relay,that is,

a very heavy current must pass thru its op erating coil KL before it canaffect its armature A As soon as the contact member C is electricallyconnected to the trolley conductor, through the manner just mentioned,current will flow from the trolley conductor 1) thru wire D coil KL,wire E contact member E, current collector W, contact member C, wire Cresistance unit R wire C coil B, wire 11, back contact 20 of relay Xarmature A of relay X wire 12, solenoid SN of track switch N, wire 14,wire 16 to ground G, and the coil 13 of relay Z will be energized andpick 111 its armature A1, that is, it will be brought into contactengagement with front contact 18. As was described the current for theoperation of relay Z was taken thru the solenoid SN of the track switchN, but it should be understood that the current in this circuit is verysmall always less than say one ampere and will have no effect onsolenoid SN that could cause an operation of the track switch, as a veryheavy current is required in this solenoid circuit before a switchoperation can occur. When armature A was brought into contact engagementwith front contact 18 and immediate flow of current resulted, feedingfrom the trolley conductor D, thru wire D wire 7, contact 18,

armature A7 wire 13, solenoid CN of track switch N, wire 15, wire 16, toground As no other resistance than that of solenoid. ON is in thiscircuit, a very heavy current will pass thru the windings of solenoidCN, and the track switchmechanism will operate the track switch to thestraight ahead position, as is arranged and described heretofore.Current will continue to flow to solenoid CN as long as the currentcollector W engages the trolley contactor P with power off, however assoon as the current collector W disengages the trolley contactor P, thecircuit of the coil B on relay Z will be opened,

and armature A will return to its normal open position, and the currentof the track switch solenoid circuit CN will be broken between armatureA and contact 18. Contact 18 is located within a magnetic blowout whichis symbolically represented by A li. As is known to those skilled in theart of relay construction, that an are broken within a magnetic field,known as a magnetic blowout, is very quickly and easily broken, and allthe deterioration of large destructive arcs is eliminated.

If the current collector initially engages the pan with power on thecoil KL of relay X will be instantly energized and pick up armature Ainto engagement with contact 19, and incident to this pickup armature Awill disengage the normally closed back contact 20. As soon as armatureA engages contact 19 current will flow from the trolley conductor D,thru wire D Wire 10, front contact 19 of relay X, armature A of relay X,wire 12, solenoid SN of track switch N, wire i l, wire 16, to ground G,energizing solenoid SN and throwing the switch to the curved position,if it should be in the straight ahead position, but if it should be inthe curved position, however, no change will occur in the position ofthe switch, and it will be held in this position. As soon as thearmature A of relay X is closed, contact 20 is opened, as alreadystated, and is preferred to be in advance of the operation of relay Z,which is accomplished by the spacing of the contact elements E and C oftrolley contactor P. The opening of contact 20 opens the circuit of coilB of relay Z, therefore coil B cannot be energized and cause anoperation of its armature A To sum up the operation of the system, ifthe car operator desires to go straight ahead he sets his controller topower off with the intention of coasting past the trolley contactor P.As soon as the current collector 11 engages the trolley contactor P,relay Z will operate and the track switch will operate to the straightahead position.

If the car operator desires to take the curve he will turn hiscontroller to power on with the intention of passing the contactordrawing power. V] hen the current collector W engages the trolleycontactor P with power on, relay X will operate, and the track switchwill be thrown to the curved position.

There are, of course, modifications and arrangements of the parts whichmay be made from that shown in the above disclosure and which will stillfall within the scope of my invention. Y

1 claim:

1. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the directiondesired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor withpower on or power off, control switches to control each branch circuitincli- Vidiually, each switch provided with an operating coil, oneswitch to close the circuit for operating the track switch straightahead when the system works power off, and the other switch to close thecircuit for operating the track switch to the curved position when thesystem works power on and open the controlling circuit of the otherswitch to prevent operating currents being applied to both operatingsolenoids simultaneously.

2. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, sep arate circuits for conductingcurrent to the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in thedirection desired when the current collector engages the trolleycontactor with power on or power off, control relays to control eachbranch circuit individually, each relay having an operating coil, onerelay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight aheadwhen the systemworks power off and the other relay to control thecircuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the systemworks power on, said latter relay having a com mon armature operatingbetween two contacts, one back and one front, one contact to control thetrack switch solenoid circuit, and the other to control the circuit ofthe first mentioned relay.

3. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids,controlrelays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling front contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes,one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight aheadwhen the system works power off, and the other relay to control thecircuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the systemworks power on, the latter relay being provided with a back contactpermitting the operation of the first mentioned relay when closed, andpreventing an operation when open.

4. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated, track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, onerelay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight aheadwhen the system works power off and have its operating coil in serieswith the other track switch solenoid, the other relay to control thecircuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the systemworks power on its operating coil being in series with the car circuit,the latter being provided with a back contact for controlling the firstmentioned relay to prevent operating currents being applied to bothtrack switch solenoids simultaneously.

5. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, atrolley conductor and trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout are chutes, onerelay to control the circuit for operating the track switch to thestraight ahead position, and the other to control the circuit foroperating the switch to the curved position, the latter relay having anarmature common to one track switch solenoid and arranged that when itscontrolling means is operative it will direct operative current into thetrack switch solenoid, and when inoperative it will provide a groundreturn, thru said track switch solenoid, for the first mentioned relay,by closing a circuit at its backcontact,

6. A switch operating system comprising an electrically operated trackswitch, a trolley conductor, a trolley contactor to be engaged by acurrent collector, separate circuits for conducting current to the trackswitch solenoids for operating the switch in the direction desired whenthe current col lector engages the trolley contactor with power on orpower oil, control switches to control each circuit individually, eachswitch provided with an operating coil, one arranged to be in serieswith the car circuits, and the other arranged to be in series with oneof the solenoids, means cooperated with each switch to retard itsopening providing the switch was actuated by its operating coil, so thatintermittent contacts of the current collector, and trolley contactorwill not inpower on or power oil, control switches to control eachbranch circuit individually, each switch provided with an operatingcoil, one arranged to be in series with the car circuits, meanscooperated with each switch to retard its opening providing the switchwas actuated by its operating coil, so that intermittent contacts of thecurrent collector and trolley contactor will not interrupt the currentflowing to the track switch solenoids, and means for operating the firstcontrol switch before operating the second control switch.

8. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the directiondesired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor withpower on or power oil, control switches to control each branch circuitindividually, each switch provided with an operating coil, one switch toclose the circuit for operating the track switch straight ahead when thesystem works power off, and the other switch to close the circuit foroperating the track switch to the curved position when the system workspower on, and open the controlling circuit of the other switch toprevent operating current being applied to both operating solenoidssimultaneously, and means for operating the first control switch beforeoperating the second switch.

9. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengagedby a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids for operating the switch in the directiondesired when the current collector engages the trolley contactor withpower on or power oil control relays to control each branch circuitindividually, each relay having an operating coil, one relay to controlthe circuit for operating the switch straight ahead when the systemworks power off and the other relay to control the circuit for operatingthe switch to the curved position when the system works power on saidlatter relay having a common armature operating between two contacts,one back and one front, one contact to control the track switch solenoidcircuit, and the other to control the circuit of the first mentionedrelay, and means for operating the first control switch before operatingthe second control switch.

10; In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling front contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes,one relay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight aheadwhen the system works power off, and the other relay to control thecircuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the systemworks power on, the latter relay being provided with a back contactpermitting the operation of the first mentioned relay when closed, andpreventing an operation when open, and means for operating the firstcontrol switch before operating the second control switch.

11. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor. to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, onerelay to control the circuit for operating the switch straight aheadwhen the system works power 0E and have its operating coil in serieswith the other track switch solenoid, the other relay to control thecircuit for operating the switch to the curved position when the systemworks power on its operating coil being in series with the car circuit,the latter being provided with a back contact for controlling the firstmentioned relay to prevent operating currents being applied to bothtrack switch solenoids simultaneously, and means for operating the firstcontrol switch before operating the second control switch.

12. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuits for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, control relays to control each branchcircuit individually, each relay having an operating coil andcontrolling contacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, onerelay to control the circuit for operating the track switch to thestraight ahead position, and the other to control the circuit foroperating the switch to the curved position, the latter relay having anarmature common to one track switch solenoid, and arranged that when itscontrolling means is operative it will direct operative current into thetrack switch solenoid, and when inoperative it will provide a groundreturn, thru said track switch solenoid, for the first mentioned relayby closing a circuit at its back contact, and means for operating thefirst control switch before operating the sec ond control switch.

13. In a switch operating system the combination of an electricallyoperated track switch, a trolley conductor, trolley contactor to beengaged by a current collector, separate circuit for conducting currentto the track switch solenoids, relays to control each branch circuitindividually, each relay having an operating coil and controllingcontacts arranged within magnetic blowout arc chutes, one relay tocontrol the straight ahead switch 0 eration, and the other relay tocontrol the curved switch operation, the latter relay being providedwith means for opening the circuit of the first mentioned relay, whenthe latter relay is in an operative state, to prevent both track switchsolenoids being energized at the same time, and means for operating thefirst control switch before operating the second control switch.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

FRANK H. RICHTERKESSING.

